Seniors Ads Target Supercommittee

The nation’s largest seniors lobbying group has launched an advertising campaign urging the congressional supercommittee to lay off Social Security and Medicare in its search for $1.5 trillion in spending reductions.

The AARP ads targeting the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction began running nationwide Thursday on all major television networks.

The spots feature seniors expressing concerns about their earned retirement and health benefits being turned into a “political game.” One ad features a retiree complaining, “instead of cutting waste and loopholes, Washington wants to cut our benefits.”

“That wasn’t the agreement,” he says.

While the ads are directed primarily at the 12 supercommittee members, AARP officials are inviting all of Congress to participate in town hall-like meetings to hear what seniors have to say about their concerns.

The committee’s recommendations on where further budget cuts should be made over the next 10 years are due by Thanksgiving, with a vote to follow in both chambers of Congress before Christmas.